New reforms hailed as ‘tremendous outcome’ for SA councils

Elected member conduct and CEO remuneration in South Australia will be overhauled after state parliament passed a new Amendment Bill last week.

Under the Statutes Amendment (Local Government Review) Bill
2020, a new conduct management system will be set up to help councils deal
quickly with low-level matters, while an independent Behaviour Standards Panel
will be established to investigate serious or repeated misbehaviour.

Additionally, council chief executive salaries will be set
by the Remuneration Tribunal of South Australia, and councils will need to seek
regular advice from the SA Essential Services Commission on rating decisions.

ESCOSA will also review councils’ annual business plans and
long-term plans once every three years.

Minister for Local Government Vickie Chapman says the reforms
represent a major shake-up for the local government sector, and include an
expansion of anti-discrimination laws to cover sexual harassment between two
council members

Local Government Association of South Australian (LGASA) President Angela Evans said it was a tremendous outcome that will support councils to deliver better results for their communities.

“Our sector has been pushing for reform for years, and many
of the changes included in this Bill were conceived by councils, or shaped by
local government input,” she said.

The Bill will need to go back through the Lower House, with
the Government and LGASA to then determine a timeframe for implementation.